Possible New NJ-SP Lessee Could Bring an Additional Pre-School Option into the County

Posted on October 1, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

The North Judson-San Pierre School Board was recently informed about the possibility of leasing space at the Middle School building to a new tenant who would help bring an additional pre-school option into the County.

Earlier this year, the owner of Max’s Playhouse in Culver, Brandy Pohl, applied for and received an education capacity-building grant.

The grant award totaled approximately $54,646 and the required 5 percent match was provided by the Starke County Economic Development Foundation. The funding opportunity was offered through the Indiana Family and Social Service Administration’s Office of Early Childhood and Out-of-School Learning.

During the September NJ-SP School Board meeting, Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told members that Pohl has been talking with school officials about the possibility of utilizing space on the school’s campus to do bring a new pre-school program into Starke County.

Zupin noted, “She wants to start SEEDs at North Judson and that’s Schools Engaging Early Development and she would like to lease a classroom for a mixed-aged preschool group here at North Judson-San Pierre Middle School. We already have Adventure Island Preschool, this would be in addition to that.”

Adventure Island Preschool has been assisting local families for years and has occupied a space in the NJ-SP Middle School building since 2016.

Dr. Zupin told school board members to expect to address the potential new tenant in a future meeting and expressed her excitement about the possibility of having a specific area dedicated to early childhood learning.

Zupin shared, “This may be something within the next month or so where I would have a lease agreement ready to go.”

She continued, “I think it would be great to have a pre-school wing in our Middle School.”

Neither preschool is specifically endorsed by the school corporation or will be offered any type of preferential treatment. NJ-SP is simply providing the businesses with a facility to call home.

To understand the stark need for additional childcare facilities in the region, consider some of the following statistics: 

The Data Center for Early Learning in Indiana notes that 72 percent of rural families in the state live in an area without a licensed childcare provider and in some portions of Starke County more than 80 percent of the households with young children have all parents in the labor force.

According to the Center for American Progress, most of Starke County is considered a “Child Care Desert”, meaning that more than 50 children under the age of 5 live in an area that contains either no child care provider or so few options that there are more than three times as many children as there are licensed child care slots.

For additional information, click the links provided above.

Adventure Island Preschool to Lease Space at Former N.J.-S.P. Middle School

Posted on November 16, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

The former North Judson-San Pierre Middle School building will have another new tenant come January. The school board voted last night to lease the former family and consumer science classroom to Adventure Island Preschool through May for $350 per month.

School officials stress the preschool is not a formal part of N.J.-S.P. but is merely a tenant, as is the Starke County Community Foundation.

Access to the school building is already restricted, and gates will be in place to keep the preschool students in a separate area. Also, the school corporation will not provide transportation to and from preschool. That will still be the responsibility of the parents.

Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin says the preschool for several years has asked the high school guidance counselors for students to assist with the program. She says now it will be easier for students to walk next door rather than drive downtown.

Right now Adventure Island Preschool has 46 total students enrolled in three classes, with a maximum size of 17. They do not offer a summer program at this time and will revisit the lease with the school corporation before classes resume next year.

Zupin says any organization interested in leasing space in the middle school building can contact her office at 574-896-2155 or by email at azupin@njsp.k12.in.us.